Telecom
Nigeria to Lead Africa in AI, Blockchain Technology – NITDA DG
Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA ), said Nigeria will lead other African countries in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.
He said this will lead to the economic diversification of the continent.
Inuwa made this claim on Wednesday at the Digital Africa 2021 virtual conference and exhibition where he spoke about “Building a New Africa with AI and Blockchain”.
He said that with the continent’s population growth and declining oil revenues, especially in Nigeria , there was a need to tap into other areas to diversify the economy.
Emerging technology is one such area, he said, and will play an important role in economic diversification.
“Digital technologies are changing the world at a faster rate than the waves of technological innovation seen before.
“Nigeria needs to accelerate its growth and modernize its economy through the development of a digitally driven growth strategy for the Nigerian economy.
“It is relevant to note that despite the economic shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the growth seen in economies has come from viable digital economies.
“The digital economy has been identified as an engine of growth, so Nigeria can harness it as an engine of growth and innovation,” he said.
The head of NITDA affirmed that the World Bank Group’s initiative on the digital economy for Africa (DE4A) supports the digital transformation strategy for Africa, prepared by the African Union (AU).
He also stressed that the DE4A initiative recognizes that the digital economy can help accelerate the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said that recently there was a call to action with the unveiling of the “Economic Sustainability Plan 2020”, which aimed to put technology at the forefront of development in Nigeria.
Inuwa said the conference was a meeting point for professionals, practitioners and policy makers to reflect on how best to harness these technologies for the benefit of citizens.
“For Nigeria, a country in desperate need of diversifying its economy, digital economic activities are essential for diversification as they transcend all aspects of human endeavor and the economic sector,” he said.
He pointed out that at NITDA, the development and use of emerging technologies was one of the strategic pillars of the agency’s 2021-2024 roadmap and action plan.
To drive this pillar, he said the agency is working with relevant stakeholders and researchers to secure AI, blockchain and other emerging technologies to support the country’s economic diversification and sustainability plan.
He reiterated that the focus on economic progress in sub-Saharan Africa, taking advantage of emerging technologies, especially AI, blockchain, Internet of Things and 5G, was highly commendable and appropriate.
He urged stakeholders present at the event to build the partnerships and collaborations necessary to make Nigeria a leading digital and knowledge economy by 2030.
Keynote speaker for the event, Professor Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice President of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), urged Africa to take advantage of the unprecedented volume of data being generated on sentiment, behavior, human health, commerce, communications, migration and more.
“The adoption of AI solutions is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years and competition among large AI companies is expected to be intense.
“In a recent report released by Markets and Markets (M&M), the size of the global AI market is expected to grow from $ 58.3 billion in 2021 to $ 309.6 billion by 2026.
“It’s a compound of a whopping 39.7% growth rate over the forecast period,” Danbatta said.
He explained that BlockChain was the basis of cryptocurrency such as bitcoin; one of the newest technologies that has received considerable global attention in recent times.
According to him, BlockChain served as the immutable metric that allowed transactions to take place and its applications are emerging, spanning many areas including financial services, rebuttal systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), health, among others.
Danbatta also said that robust and reliable broadband infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, such as the 5th generation (5G) network, are needed to unlock the enormous economic potential of AI and BlockChain in every. country.
He reiterated that African countries including Nigeria must be positioned to take advantage of the huge revenues from AI technologies, BlockChain in particular, over the next five years to make way for a digital economy.
AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions, while Blockchain technology is a structure that stores transactional records, also known as block, of the public in multiple databases. of data, called a string.
ntel, has officially moved away from its traditional voice and data business, unveiling a major transformation that will see it focus on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and technology-driven services.
As part of the consolidation process, ntel unveiled The Next Frontier, a transformation agenda planned to see the firm transform into an integrated digital infrastructure, connectivity and real estate enterprise.
Its new focus is a now BET Agenda – anchored on three growth pillars, Beam, Eden, and Titan and the drivers said that the strategy reflected ntel’s commitment to creating new opportunities through technology innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic asset optimisation.
The launch comes as ntel continues its journey towards regaining spectrum assets, while actively leveraging strategic partnerships to redefine innovation in the telecommunications industry and unlock new pathways for growth.
Built on the company’s BET Agenda – anchored on three growth pillars, Beam, Eden, and Titan – the strategy reflected ntel’s commitment to creating new opportunities through technology innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic asset optimisation.
The launch comes as ntel continues its journey towards regaining spectrum assets, while actively leveraging strategic partnerships to redefine innovation in the telecommunications industry and unlock new pathways for growth.
The company also showcased a portfolio of initiatives designed to strengthen its position as a future-focused infrastructure platform.
Under Beam, ntel announced the launch of WakaGo, a global e-SIM solution that delivers seamless connectivity for international travellers, alongside AirFibre, a high-speed fixed wireless broadband service designed to provide reliable internet access for businesses.
Under Titan, the company highlighted its growing infrastructure business focused on tower development, fibre connectivity, duct infrastructure, colocation services, and infrastructure sharing solutions that enable operators, enterprises, and technology providers to expand efficiently and sustainably.
A major highlight of the launch was Eden, ntel’s real estate development platform, which is transforming NatCom’s extensive property portfolio into high-value commercial and residential developments.
To further push its transformation, the company unveiled three flagship projects. They are Eden Place, a premium multi-storey commercial development in Lagos’ prime business district.
There is also Nova Place, a modern commercial development strategically located within Port Harcourt’s growing technology and business hub.
Terenna Court, a premium multi-storey residential apartment development in Abuja.
Together, these projects demonstrate ntel’s ambition to unlock the full potential of its real estate assets through strategic partnerships, innovative design, and long-term value creation.
Speaking at the unveiling of The Next Frontier, Soji Maurice-Diya, managing director/chief executive officer, NatCom Development and Investment Limited (trading as ntel), described the initiative as far more than a business transformation strategy.
According to him, it represents the company’s commitment to building an integrated ecosystem that connects people, empowers businesses, drives digital inclusion, and creates sustainable economic value for Nigeria.
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s future workforce with a high-impact virtual masterclass designed to equip young people with the practical skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The Initiative, held to commemorate World Youth Skills Day 2026, themed “Skills for a Shared Future – The NextGen Advantage,” presented a platform on which experienced Airtel professionals provided mentorship and coaching to undergraduates, interns, and recent graduates for the current realities of formal work environments.
Organised on the auspices of the Airtel Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), by which staff donate their time and expertise towards social programmes, the 90-minute virtual masterclass, which was attended by over 400 undergraduates and young professionals, extended the reach of the Foundation’s education and youth development programmes.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said investing in young people remains one of the most impactful ways to build Nigeria’s future economy.
He said, “The future of work is changing faster than ever before, and success will increasingly belong to those who are equipped with the right skills, the right mindset, and the confidence to adapt. As an organisation, we believe that empowering young people with practical digital and professional capabilities is an investment in Nigeria’s future competitiveness.
Through our Employee Volunteer Programme, our people are sharing not just knowledge, but real industry experience to help shape careers, unlock opportunities, and prepare the next generation to lead in a digital world.”
Unlike traditional career seminars, the masterclass adopted an interactive learning model that offered participants the option to select specialised breakout sessions aligned with personal interests and career aspirations.
In his keynote remarks titled The Next Gen Advantage, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, noted that the future will be shaped by the skills to transform great ideas into impactful solutions.
He summed up the pathway to a future-ready career into five actions, namely learning continuously, solving problems, building a digital reputation, embracing Artificial Intelligence, and developing human skills.
“Technical knowledge remains important, but employers today are equally looking for adaptability, collaboration, communication, digital confidence, and the ability to learn continuously,” he said.
In the first general session titled Your Network is Your Net Worth, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, Director, Human Resources and Administration, Airtel Nigeria, charged attendees to build character. The second general session themed Your Money, Your Future, delivered tips on budgeting and financial discipline was facilitated by Olakunbi Osigbesan, Head, Treasure, Smartcash PSB.
Following the general sessions were five breakout rooms, in which attendees were offered curated guides designed to develop contemporary workplace competencies.
The first session, Digital Transformation and Growth, led by Oyebowale Akideinde, General Manager, Digital and Innovation, Airtel Nigeria, presented a mechanism to leverage digital platforms for visibility and opportunity creation.
The CV Clinic and Interview Masterclass, which was led by Chidera Okoye, HR Outsourcing Lead, Airtel Nigeria, discussed practical recruitment strategies, including applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly CVs, and the STAR interview framework.
A third session on Communication and Personal Branding, delivered by Sam Adeoye, Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, focused on value presentation, executive communication, and earned visibility, built on “V.I.R.A.L.”, a mnemonic device created for the attendees by the facilitator.
The programme also featured a dedicated session titled AI as Your Superpower, presented by Ezenwa Agbanusi, IT Governance Executive at Airtel Nigeria, in which participants discussed prompt engineering and AI-powered tools for enhanced learning, creativity, and workplace performance.
Corporate Social Responsibility Lead at Airtel Nigeria, Victoria Ndu, led the fifth breakout room on Emotional Intelligence, with a guide on building a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) for improved workplace and business performance.
By connecting future professionals directly with industry experts, the company continues to support the development of a workforce equipped to participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy and contribute to shared prosperity.
U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber has agreed to acquire German food delivery company Delivery Hero in a deal valued at €12.7 billion ($14.6 billion), marking one of the largest transactions in the global food delivery industry.
Uber
The companies announced the agreement on Thursday, with Uber offering €41.50 per share for Delivery Hero, a Berlin-based company that has grown into one of the world’s largest online food delivery platforms.
Despite the announcement, Delivery Hero’s shares declined by 0.5 per cent in Frankfurt trading to €37.90.
Founded in 2011, Delivery Hero operates in more than 60 markets across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
The company has expanded beyond traditional restaurant delivery services into quick commerce, providing rapid delivery of groceries and other consumer goods.
Under the agreement, Uber will acquire Delivery Hero’s operations in 50 markets globally.
As part of the transaction, U.S.-based investment firm SSW Partners will acquire Delivery Hero’s businesses in 14 additional markets where the German company and Uber currently compete. The transaction is valued at approximately €1.4 billion.
Delivery Hero Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Niklas Östberg, said the partnership would strengthen the company’s long-term growth by combining its local market expertise with Uber’s global technology and delivery platform.
“Uber’s global mobility and delivery platform and our shared commitment to innovation make this the right partnership to build on Delivery Hero’s strengths in local food delivery and quick commerce,” Östberg said.
Uber Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the acquisition would expand the company’s delivery operations while creating new opportunities for merchants, consumers and delivery workers.
“A merger would extend affordable, reliable delivery to many millions more people in some of the world’s most dynamic economies, while creating more opportunities for merchants and couriers,” he said.
Delivery Hero’s management has unanimously recommended that shareholders approve the offer.
The companies said the transaction remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory approvals, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.
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